Regency Fashion ~ September 1813

I sometimes regret not wearing the long elegant fashions of yore. Like when I am sitting having a cup of tea.  Not much good for housework though.

These gowns were worn exactly 200 years ago. Plates and descriptions are from the August La Belle Assemblee with fashions for September

 
Morning or Walking Dress

High dress of jaconet muslin, made up to the throat, and laced behind in the slip style; waist nearly the same length as the preceding month; the bosom is cut on each side in three gores, in which a rich footing is let in; the middle gore is nearly half a quarter in length, the side ones are something shorter; they form the shape of the bosom, and have a pretty and novel effect.  Long sleeve let in all the way down with a narrow letting-in-lace at regular distances of rather better than a nail across the arm; the muslin between each letting-in is full; the edges of the sleeve, as also the throat of the dress, is finished with a narrow lace set on plain; the skirt is gored, and wider at the bottom than they have been worn; it is trimmed with a narrow flounce to correspond.  Over this dress our fair pedestrians wear a pelisse of the palest faun-colour sarsnet, the texture of which is remarkably slight but glossy; in the form of this pelisse there is nothing novel, but the trimming, which is composed of crape, is extremely tasteful and quite new; it is a crape rosette slightly spotted with floss silk, and the heart of the rosette is a very small floss silk button of the most elegant workmanship: this trimming goes entirely round the pelisse, which is, very appropriately to the season made without a collar.  Small cottage cap of faun-colour ribband; this bonnet is worn very much off the face to display a rich lace cap. Gloves, shoes, and parasol to correspond, the latter trimmed with white lace.


I see we are still at the seaside with this one. White cliffs of Dover perhaps?

Evening Gown

Frock of straw-colour crape, with a demi train; it is worn over a slight white satin petticoat; the back of this dress is very novel and elegant, the under-dress is laced behind, and the frock is open at the back so as to display the white satin underneath: it is finished at each side of the back by a row of rich lace, which also forms a shoulder-strap, from whence it goes across the front so as to form the shape of the bosom, which is done by the insertion of a piece of crape between a double row of lace. Waists as they were worn last month.  White lace sleeves made very full, and finished at the bottom with a rich white silk trimming.


 
The hair is twisted up behind à la Grecque, and a fancy wreath of flowers is put quite at the back of the head; part of the hind hair is braided and goes quite round the head, the front hair is disposed in full curls on the forehead. Pearl necklace, ear-rings, and bracelets. Plain ivory fan; white kid gloves, and slippers.

Well since I actually have this copy of the LBA and the descriptions and the plates are definitely supposed to match, your guess is as good as mine as to what happened to the pearls. And of course the hat totally covers the hair. Anyway I am sure you can get the general idea.

Until next time, Happy rambles.

Regency Life Saltram Below Stairs Part 3

Here we have some kitchen essentials. 

 This would have been used to strain meat juices.

 The cans at right are for hot water for a vareity of purposes, including carrying up stairs to the family for washing and bathing by chamber maids. Full up these cans weigh about thirteen kilograms, a heavy weight for a young lass of about thirteen.  Sigh. No doubt that would have been my job.

 Butter pats and a dish drying rack

Jelly moulds

Some of it seems very  familiar doesn't it.  Until next time, Happy Rambles

The Gilvry Series - Tying it up

If you are wondering at my absence, and I do hope you are, I had a deadline. The last book in the Gilvrys of Dunross Series was due mid-September.  This series has an overarching plot. A couple of  mysteries that build in each book.  One of those mysteries is, what happened to Drew, the 2nd oldest brother? And what happened to Drew ties up another mystery running through all four books.
This is the first time I have attempted keeping such a specific plot line, which is a mystery, going through several books. I learned some things.

• It is a hard thing to do if you don't actually plot
• Since each book has to stand alone as a complete romance, you cannot focus too much on the overarching story, therefore don't let it get too complex
• What you wrote in the first book can make it very hard to write the last book. It is very easy to paint yourself into a corner.

In other words, it is not for the faint of heart. It wouldn't have been quite so hard, I decided much too late to do anything about it, if the family had been working against a known enemy, but trying to carry a secret through several books and then reveal all at the end, was quite a mouthful to chew.

Yet... it is as good as done, I am happy to say. No doubt there will be revisions and tweaks, but it did tie up logically at the end, with a pretty nice bow, too, I thought. I enjoyed the challenge.

Next comes a sequel to the Haunted by the Earl's Touch, in case you wanted to know.